1852 $10 Humbert Ten Dollar VF30 PCGS. Ex: S.S. Central
America. SSCA 7368. K-10, R.6. It has always seemed curious
that when Gold Rush California needed reliable circulating coinage
the most, what they received were fifty dollar slugs from Augustus
Humbert and the Assay Office. This coin is one of the exceptions,
but the 1852 tens were only struck for four days. It obviously was
extensively circulated for five years before the sinking of the
S.S. Central America in September, 1857. The centers display
greater loss of detail than the margins on each side, and the piece
is well-balanced in appearance from obverse to reverse. The
surfaces are bright yellow-gold and there are numerous small
abrasions scattered about from handling. Listed on page 366 of the
2010 Guide Book. (PCGS# 10187)